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MEKIAM S. OLLENDORFF 




A CldlSTIAN ISRAELITE. 



BY 



REV. ISAAC BIRD. 



PUBLISHED BY 

gimmcatt fact Socxeig 

Cornhill, Boston. 




\0^> A ^9 l 



THE 



JEWISH PRISONER: 



A SKETCH OP THE LIFE OF 



HERMANN S. OLLENDORFF, 



A CHRISTIAN ISRAELITE: 



BY REV. ISAAC BIRD. 



-WITH A. IN" INTRODUCTION 



BY 
REV, E. A. LAWRENCE, D.D. 

PROF. OF ECCL. HIST. IK THE THEOL. INSTITUTE, EAST WINDSOR, CONN. 



U. S. A, 



AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, 

28 COBNHILL, BOSTON. 







Entered according lo Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by 

THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, 

Jn the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Mass. 



CONTENTS. 



1 

Introduction, 5 

CHAPTEE I. 

Hope for the Jews — Parentage of Ollendorff — His Nativity — Early 
Education — Emigration to America — Coming to Hartford — 
Arrest— Condemnation and Imprisonment— Prayers in Prison, . 17 



CHAPTER II. 

Removal to Wethersfield — Treatment by the Officers — Gloomy 
Reflections — Thoughts of his Mother — Hebrew Prayers, .... 30 



CHAPTER III. 

Visit of the Chaplain — Receives a New Testament — Reads cau- 
tiously — Studies English — Begins to understand Conversation 
and Sermons — Is distressed for his Sins — Prays to God in 
Christ's name— Finds Peace, 3d 



CHAPTER IV. 

Efforts for his Liberation — Correspondence with his Friends — Re- 
ligious Enjoyment — Final Release — Is received into the Author's 
Family— Diw Hawes' Discourse — Unites with the Church —Wins 
his Pastor's Confidence — Enters East Windsor Academy, 48 



IV CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER V. 

Letters to his Pastor —Active Labors — Broad Brook — Distribution 
of Sunday School Books and Tracts, &c, 59 



CHAPTER VI. 

Labors at Rockville — Joy in his Work — Commencement of Sick- 
ness, 73 



CHAPTER VII. 

Dr. Hawes' Discourse continued — Ollendorff 's further Decline — 
Removal to Hartford — Sudden Death, 85 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Practical Lesson — Benevolent and Impartial Character of the Gos- 
pel— Kind Words to the Jewish Reader, 90 



INTRODUCTION. 



The subject of this interesting Memoir was introduced 
to my notice by a letter which he brought from his pas- 
tor, the Rev. Dr. Hawes, of Hartford, dated December 
28, 1857. In this letter his pastor says of him, " He is 
kind, gentle, amiable, intelligent, and, I trust, a friend of 
the Saviour. I have watched him with great jealousy 
since he sought my counsel last summer, and if he fails 
me in the sincerity of his piety, I shall say that all the 
signs have failed in which I have been accustomed to 
place confidence. Can he not be prepared for useful- 
ness in some way in the church, or among his country- 
men, say, as a colporter ? Will you sound the depths 
of his mind, measure and estimate his value, and see 
what use can be made of him ? Enter into the case a 
little ; it may be that the Lord intends to bring some- 
thing out of his visit to your place." 

The impressions from my first interview with Mr. 
Ollendorff were not quite as favorable as might have 



6 INTRODUCTION. 

been expected from such an introduction. This was 
partly, at least, from the caution with which I had been 
led to weigh the evidence of conversions from Judaism. 
I took of him a few Christian Almanacs, and invited 
him, when he had finished his mission through the street, 
to return to tea. He did so, and remained over night, 
and by invitation, nearly a week. Meanwhile, he grad- 
ually removed whatever was unfavorable in my first 
impressions, and awakened in us so much interest that 
arrangements were proposed for his entering the Acad- 
emy and becoming a member of my family. These met 
the approval of his pastor, and were immediately entered 
on. From that time my house was his home, till two or 
three weeks before his death. Then, on account of other 
prolonged sickness in the family, he was removed, in the 
most comfortable manner, at the expense and by the 
solicitous attentions of his fellow-students, to the Rev, 
Mr. Bird's, in Hartford, from whose house he came to 
mine, and to whom the public are indebted for this in- 
structive biographical sketch.* 

All that is said of Mr. O.'s intellectual capacity, and 
perhaps more, is strictly true. He began the study of 
the Greek language about the middle of the academical 
year ; and in a few days, with a little private instruction, 
he was able to join the class that commenced at the be- 



INTRODUCTION. 7 

ginning of the year. Then, besides going on with the 
class, he read up in two months the back lessons which 
had occupied them four months. At the opening of the 
spring and summer term, in addition to his studies in the 
regular course, he began the Greek Testament, and read 
during the term, nearly all the Gospel of Matthew, and 
portions of the other gospels. His zeal in these readings 
amounted to enthusiasm; and his joy, as new truths 
broke upon him out of the original, was, at times, a 
kind of ecstasy. He seized with avidity every new 
proof of the messiahship of Jesus, and laid it up as 
in a store-house for future use in the conversion of his 
Jewish brethren. He would sometimes exclaim, in the 
fullness and force of his convictions, " Oh, how plain it 
is ! They will see it — I shall show it to them, if God 
will permit." 

The simplicity and energy of his Christian faith were 
equal to the ardor of his desire for Christian knowl- 
edge. These freed him, even in his prison, from the 
old sophisms of rabbinic and cabalistic lore, which had 
bound him so long, and made him an earnest student 
of the inspired word. His strong desire to study the 
New Testament in the original, was that he might 
come more directly and surely to the true meaning, 
and because he held that meaning, with no doubt or 



8 INTRODUCTION. 

questioning, as the revealed truth and will of God. 
He did not speculate on the obvious sense of Scripture, 
to know whether its doctrines were true, though his was 
a thoroughly inquiring mind ; but he took them as true 
on the divine testimony, the highest evidence of which 
any moral proposition is susceptible, and he found them 
true, by his experience of their renewing and saving 
power. The change, of which his prison walls were the 
silent witnesses, and which removed him from Judaism, 
carried him fully over into all those distinctive doctrines 
which have made the difference in every age between 
a living and advancing, and a dead Christianity. 

Mr. Ollendorff was led to these doctrines against the 
strongest opposing forces — his Jewish prejudices, his 
parental training, and his unregenerate heart. In his 
conflict with them, he struggled through long nights in 
his lonely cell. Now he throws from him, in disgust, the 
little New Testament that is beginning to assure him of 
their truth and his need. Then he takes it back and 
reads, and again and again he throws it away. At 
length Christ and the little Testament conquer, and he 
lays the victorious book in his bosom, and his intellect 
and heart on the altar of his new Master. So strong 
was his grateful sense of the divine favor, in arresting 
him in the incipient stagea of vice and crime, and in 



INTRODUCTION. V 

the rich blessing which came to him through his prison 
discipline, that he commemorated the anniversary of 
his release by a visit to the prison; arid, so far as he 
was able, by religious conversation with the prisoners. 
This he intended to do annually, so long as his proximity 
to the prison should allow. 

In the hope that it might be useful to this unfortunate 
class, he wrote out the narrative of his prison-life, and 
of his change, from which Mr. Bird has made extracts 
in the sketch. " Of this Narrative," he says in a letter, 
" I think its publication, under a fit shape, might benefit 
some of the Jews and also some of the prisoners. 
Should it ever be published, and any share fall to me, 
then I will use it, according as I vowed it when I en- 
gaged to write it, for the benefit of released prisoners." 

Mr. O. possessed a degree of mental culture which, 
with his earnestness and close application, gave promise 
of more than common success. He perused with ease 
and interest some of the best German poets, and had 
some acquaintance with the historical writers in the Ger- 
man language. He read with delight Krummacher's 
Discourses, out of which he used to instruct his German 
friends in Broad Brook and Rockville ; sometimes read- 
ing to them, and sometimes, for the greater power of 



10 INTRODUCTION. 

impression in delivery, committing whole sermons to 
memory. 

With the exception of brief intervals in his sickness, 
occasioned by the nature of his disease, he proved him- 
self, in his social disposition, all that his introductory let- 
ter represented him — " kind, gentle, amiable." He was 
modest, but genial and generous, in all the relations 
into which he came in the family. By his little atten- 
tions and kind acts, he soon won the affections of the 
youngest member, in whose sports he would often join 
with a child's sympathy and hilarity. Quick to see 
where a helping hand could be of use, and equally quick 
to render it, he was appreciative of others' kindness, and 
grateful for the smallest expression of it. A letter to 
Mrs. L., just after his first visit to East Windsor Hill, 
and while making arrangements to return, is happily 
illustrative of this latter trait of his character. The 
following is a brief extract : "It is impossible for me to 
describe to you the feelings of mingled joy and regret 
which moved my heart, when I this morning left your 
house, — the house where I so unexpectedly met with 
kindred people, and where I could partake of the in- 
cense of Christian friendship, and where the mercy-gifts 
of God were again administered unto me. Surely the 
Lord has been, and is very gracious to me ; it is wonder- 



INTRODUCTION. 11 

ful in my eyes, but it is the Lord's doing, therefore will 
I come into his courts with the offering of thanksgiving, 
I will pay unto him my vows before all the congregation. 
But although I consider it perfectly justifiable to give 
all the glory and thanks to the great Source of every 
good and every perfect gift; yet must we not omit to 
bestow the tribute of thanks, and nourish gratitude 
towards those of our benefactors whom we do see ; 
for in so doing we shall only exercise our insufficient 
gratitude towards our great and bountiful Benefactor, 
whom we do not see. It is therefore my inmost desire to 
express to you my gratitude for all the kindness I re- 
ceived from you and your family. But perceiving the 
deficiency of my prose expressions of gratitude in the 
English language, I will use the plea of a well-known 
D D., which I saw in Mrs. Hamlin's Memoir, that, 
'were the weather not so uncommonly bad, I would 
write in poetry/ " 

In the midst of a community somewhat suspicious of 
Jewish converts, and under circumstances suited to 
make them slow in giving him their confidence, his ami- 
able deportment and consistent Christian life gained for 
him, not only confidence, but in his sickness the kindest 
interest and sympathy. And it is due to the courtesy 
shown by the medical profession to the clergy, to state 



12 INTRODUCTION. 

that, though only a student in theology, the physician 
who was in regular attendance upon him for nearly four 
months, declined all remuneration, both for his services 
and for his medicines. The consulting physician, who 
visited him several times from Hartford, treated him 
with the same kind consideration. 

But this little book is worthy of perusal," not simply on* 
personal grounds, or from its relation to prison life and 
prisoners. It has strong claims also from its relation to 
God's ancient covenant people, and the promise and 
prospects of their restoration. 

The subject of this memoir was of the seed of Abra- 
ham, " to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, 
and the covenants — -whose are the fathers, and of whom 
as concerning the flesh, Christ came." For eighteen 
centuries they have been scattered and peeled, visibly 
enduring the retributions of heaven, in fulfillment of 
prophecy, for their crucifixion and continued rejection of 
the Lord's anointed. But "hath God cast away his 
people?" "Have they stumbled that they should fall? 
God forbid." For though "some of the branches be 
broken off," yet "they also, if they abide not still in 
unbelief, shall be grafted in," for " God is able to graft 
them in again." " And if the casting away of them be 



INTRODUCTION. 13 

the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of 
them be but life from the dead ? " 

The time of this reconciling of the world and receiv- 
ing of the Jews, seems to draw near. The civil disabil- 
ities under which they have been so long suffering, are 
being removed. In Protestant countries there is among 
them a decided advance in general intelligence, and a 
disposition to throw off the oppression of dead forms 
and rabbinic rule. The methods of controversy with 
them, and of securing their conversion, are more apos- 
tolic, namely, by a comparison of the New Testament 
with the Old, as in the Epistle to the Hebrews-^- more 
by rational argument, and less by force. The opening 
for the gospel of the entire Gentile world, the great in- 
crease of interest on the part of the churches in Jewish 
missions, and the number and character of the converts 
from Judaism, which mark the present century, are un- 
mistakable signs of that reconciling of the world and 
receiving of the Jews which the apostle foretold as " life 
from the dead." 

Many of the men now occupying the highest places 
of literary, scientific, and theological influence in the 
universities of England and Germany are proselytes 
from Judaism, the faithful followers of the Lord Jesus. 
It is stated, on the authority of Professor Tholuck of 



14 INTRODUCTION. 

Halle, that more proselytes have been made during the 
last forty years than since the first ages of the church. 
And a recent historian of the Jews adds to this, that " a 
much greater proportion of conversions has, within the 
last thirty years, taken place among Jews than among 
heathen." Truly the past is a page in Jewish history 
dark with judgments, and uttering God's own words, 
"I have given the dearly-beloved of my soul into the 
hand of my enemies." But the present seems to artic- 
ulate those other words of love and hope — " Since I 
spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still. 
I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord." 

E. A. LAWRENCE. 

East Windsor Hill, Oct. 31, 1859. 



MEMOIR 



CHAPTER I. 

Hope for the Jews — Parentage of Ollendorff— His Nativity —Early- 
Education — Emigration to America — Coming to Hartford — ' 
Arrest — Condemnation and Imprisonment — Prayers in Prison. 

The providence of God in relation to the Jews 
has long been a subject of wonder to all intelli- 
gent and thoughtful men. From the calling of 
their first father down to their present scattered 
state among the nations, their history has been 
such as to stop the mouth of the infidel, and to 
command the admiration and strengthen the faith 
of the Christian believer. 

What has already happened to this " peculiar 
people" has been the subject of foregoing pro- 
phecy ; and if the unfulfilled prophecies of scrip- 
ture are as credible as those which have received 
their accomplishment, the Jews have yet to act 
an important part in the world's future history. 
They are yet to be engrafted again into the stock 
from which they were broken off, and to be 
received once more into the divine favor, and this 
2 



13 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

"receiving of them" is to be, to other nations, as 
" life from the dead." 

We are not permitted to know, beforehand, all 
that is meant by this predicted receiving of the 
Jews, nor all that is meant by the " life from the 
dead " which is to accompany it. But we may 
believe that this much, at least, is intended, 
namely, that the " nation scattered and peeled," 
will believe in Jesus Christ as their promised 
Messiah, and be gathered into his church, and 
that their testimony, attended by the power of 
the Spirit, will have a remarkable influence in 
convincing and regenerating the rest of the 
world. 

Many who profess to be attentive observers of 
the signs of the times, believe that the period is 
near when this receiving of the remnant of Judah 
will occur. Scores and hundreds of that nation 
have turned to the Lord within the last half 
century, some of whom occupy high stations in 
society. Some hold civil offices under govern- 
ment, some are learned professors ; and not a few, 
earnest ministers of the gospel.* 

Every fresh case of the real conversion of a 
child of Israel, furnishes new reason to believe in 

* The number of Jewish Christians now living, is estimated at 
25,000, of whom 600 are preachers of Christ crucified. 



BIRTH AND EDUCATION. 19 

the near approach of the happy time m question, 
and as such, is worthy of a place on the Christian 
record, among the important events of the day. 
Such a case was that of the late Hermann S. 
Ollendorff, some account of whose life and con- 
version it is the object of these pages to relate. 

He was born in the year 1833, in Rawiez, a 
small city of South Posen, in Prussia. His 
parents, during his childhood, were in affluent cir- 
cumstances, and well able to afford him the means 
of a good education. As soon, therefore, as his 
age would permit, he was sent to a Jewish 
school, to learn Hebrew spelling and Hebrew 
words. Of course this learning of an unspoken 
language was, for a child of his age, a difficult 
and irksome task ; and for his progress in it, he 
professed to be "more indebted to the cane of 
the Rabbi, than to any thing else." 

He remained at school till his fifteenth year, 
and learned to translate the Hebrew Scriptures 
into German, and to read the Talmud, and other 
Jewish commentaries* But it was a mere repe- 



* He might have made greater proficiency in his studies had it not 
been for an accident which deprived him, in part, of the use of his 
eyes. In very early childhood an elder brother of his, wishing to 
show him an interesting sight, ran to the nursery, seized him in his 
arms, and in hurrying through the washing room, stumbled over a 
vessel filled with scalding water. The child fell in, and was taken 



20 MEMOIR OF OLLEISTDOKFF. 

tition of words, producing no practical effect upon 
his mind. Nor did his teacher appear to aim at 
any thing further than this. To impress divine 
truth on the heart and conscience of his pupils, 
and lead them to a pious trust in God, was a duty 
which he seemed to think did not belong to him. 
The child was habituated, almost from infancy, 
to repeat Hebrew prayers, and, in connection with 
them, certain select passages of Scripture, the 
meaning of which, for many long years, he never 
understood. 

When he was at the age of eight, his father, 
who had perhaps lived in a style beyond his 
means, found himself obliged to quit his country 
for a time, leaving his family of six children on 
the hands of their mother. This careful lady, by 
disposing of her costly ornaments, and by ex- 
traordinary economy, with a trifling assistance 
from one of her brothers, so managed as to keep 
the family together, and in such a state of com- 
fort that their nearest relatives knew not that 
they ever suffered any real want. 

It was, doubtless, during this season of mater- 
out blind, and nearly dead. He never fully recovered from the 
effects of this accident. One of his eyes, in particular, notwithstand- 
ing that great pains and expense, under the best medical advice, 
were bestowed upon it, carried a mark of the injury to his dying 



FILIAL LOVE TEMPTATIONS. 21 

nal care, a period which lasted eight years, that 
this affectionate mother impressed her image so 
indelibly on the heart of her son Hermann — an 
image which, even after her death, he cherished 
with a devotion so nearly idolatrous as almost to 
unfit him to act as an independent agent, or as a 
being accountable to any other than maternal 
authority. Creditable as this was to his filial 
piety, it nevertheless operated in after time, as 
we shall see, nearly to accomplish his ruin. 

In his fourteenth year he was promoted to a 
class in the Gymnasium, by way of preparation for 
his entering the University. But after a short 
time, though he endeavored to obtain a partial 
support by teaching a few children, he found it 
impossible to meet his necessary expenses, and 
thus his aspirations for a liberal education received 
a final check. 

Shortly after attaining his sixteenth year he 
left home, and was engaged as an agent in a kind 
of business that required him to travel much 
among strangers. In these excursions, as also in 
the place of his residence, he was drawn into bad 
company, and though not addicted to low and 
degrading vice, he contracted a love for strong 
drink, after the manner of the people around him, 
and was fond of gambling, and of scenes of dissi- 



22 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

pating carousal. This course of life lost him the 
confidence of his employers, and in the year 1853 
or 1854, he came to this country. Here, a stranger 
and destitute, he was variously employed, some- 
times in working on railroads, and sometimes in 
other forms of manual labor, till near the close of 
1855. At this time he made his way to the city 
of Hartford, in company with one or more of his 
countrymen, through whose influence, in part at 
least, he attempted to pass a couple of counterfeit 
bank notes. In conversation respecting this act 
he would never claim that he was entirely inno- 
cent ; but it would seem that, though he might 
have had reasons for suspecting the character 
of the paper he was putting off, yet he was not, 
in fact, fully aware that it was spurious. He 
was apprehended and lodged in the city jail for 
two months, awaiting the time for his trial at the 
next session of the court. 

The trial came on near the close of December. 
Several witnesses, some from Hartford, and some 
from New York, were examined. The passing of 
the spurious bills was sufficiently proved; but 
whether with the intent to defraud, was not so 
evident. It was in his favor that he did not wear 
the countenance of a rogue, that at the time of 
his apprehension no other bad money was found 



CONVICTION FOR CRIME. I 23 

in his possession, and that his former employers 
from New York could bear testimony to his pre- 
vious accuracy and uprightness in all his pecu- 
niary transactions with them. The lawyers made 
their pleas; the judge explained the law, and 
gave his charge, and the jury took the case into 
their consideration. It was some time before they 
could all agree, but finally they decided adversely 
to the prisoner. While the jury were absent con- 
sulting on the case, it was very natural that the 
prisoner, after all the excitement of the trial, after 
hearing the witnesses pro and con, the conflicting 
pleas of the lawyers, and the charge of the judge, 
should experience a painful anxiety in regard to 
the message which those twelve men were about 
to bring in. The following are the words he has 
left, describing his sensations and thoughts on 
that occasion, and those that followed in his 
prison : 

" A horrible time a prisoner has to pass in a 
court room, awaiting the return of the jury that 
is to decide on his liberty. Every hour seems a 
year, and every minute a day of pain and anguish. 
A multitude of conflicting thoughts crowd upon 
the mind of such an unfortunate man. c Can they 
find me guilty ? Or shall I after long weeks of 
imprisonment waiting for my trial, gain back my 



24 | MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

liberty, enjoy again the company of dear friends, 
and gaze on the beauties of nature, whose charms 
I have, alas, too little admired ? If the latter, 
oh, how differently will I live ! How will I shun 
bad company, and every temptation to evil. But 
if they find me guilty — if all those hopes with 
which I have flattered myself prove vain, and 
are to be extinguished within the walls of a 
prison, what then? Oh, how can I endure it! 
But they can not pronounce me guilty. The tes- 
timony against me has been greatly weakened by 
the witnesses on my side. 5 So a new train of 
hopeful thoughts make their appearance in the 
mind of the prisoner." 

" Under reflections like these — reflections sud- 
denly to be changed from joyful hope to anguish, 
from pleasing expectation to despair — I forgot 
every thing around me, and lived in the imagina- 
tion of the future, till I was suddenly awakened 
out of my fantasies by the entrance of the jury; 
and then all the horrors of my present and my 
future prison, presented themselves before me. 
I had but little of a living spirit left. The course 
of my blood stopped, and only by taking hold on 
the table, was I able to obey the order of the 
clerk, c Prisoner, stand up.' 

" « Gentlemen of the jury, is the prisoner guilty 



CONVICTION. 25 

of having passed two counterfeit bills in this 
city, or not guilty?' 

" It had the appearance as if all in the room 
sympathized with me, for not a sound was heard. 
I myself stopped, for a moment, my breath, and 
awaited, in torturing anxiety, the announcement 
of the foreman. c Guilty r , sir ! ' 

" ( Constable, take the prisoner back.' 

" Meanwhile, some of the Germans present came 
forward to console me, and I, actuated by a false 
pride, pretended to be reconciled to my fate, and 
fully at peace. 

" I was carried back to my cell in the jail, where 
I had been for two months a constant inmate. 
There, alone, with the same unaltered, cold, and 
silent walls around me, nature demanded her 
right ; my tears flowed freely. I tried to pray ; 
that is, to repeat some of the Jewish prayer-forms ; 
but having for so many years neglected that 
sweet duty, I was not able to repeat any satisfac- 
tory prayer aright. ' Condemned, degraded crimi- 
nal] echoed again and again in my ears. I began 
to measure my cell with hasty step. I thought 
on the horrible prospect of my future; I thought 
also on my past. I thought of my departed 
mother — and when I called to mind her good 
advice, the blessing she supplicated upon my 



26 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

head, the high expectations she had entertained 
of me, and how far I had come short of these 
expectations, and the gratitude I owed her — my 
tears started anew, and, overwhelmed .with grief 
and despair, I sought a refuge on my bed. Oh, 
what would I not have given for sleep! But 
that sweet comforter of the poor and wretched, 
was banished from my eyelids, and ever and 
anon my thought would fasten on my mother. 
What would she say to see me, her boy, whom 
she had trained up with so much care, a con- 
demned criminal/ Once in my feverish imagina- 
tion in the night, I fancied I saw her, and oh, 
how were her eyes filled with tears, and her 
heart broken! I heard, as it were, her voice 
lamenting over me, ' Why have you done this 
unto me ? Why have you so entirely forsaken 
God, and my instructions ? But, oh ! turn to 
God now, before it may be too late.' 

" I attenrpted again to pray, but it was a mere 
mockery. I prayed that God would punish all 
those who had pronounced me guilty; that he 
would destroy the person through whose machi- 
nations I was brought there. I prayed also that 
the judge (who had not yet pronounced my 
sentence) might give me the slightest punish- 
ment ; for my lawyer had told me that I might 



GRIEF, REMORSE. 27 

expect from four to ten years in prison. But 
these prayers were not those of a penitent ; and 
when God was so merciful to me as to turn the 
heart of the judge to condemn me to but four 
years, it surely was from no prayer of mine, but 
merely for his own loving-kindness' sake. I prayed 
because it was my only remaining resource ; 
because I was pressed to it by my frightened 
imagination. I felt that I was mocking God, and 
therefore soon desisted. 

" How dreadful for a miserable outcast, over- 
whelmed with anxiety and shame, to be unable 
to offer a prayer — to be conscious that he has no 
part in God. I laid myself again upon my bed, 
and let my life pass before me. I was like a 
miser on his dying bed, taking a last view of his 
gold — the gold that he must soon leave to his 
heirs, who are waiting with gladness for his 
expiring breath. He thinks of God, before whom 
he must shortly stand, whose talents he has 
wasted, and whose poor he has oppressed. In 
vain he seeks refuge behind his gold-bags; in 
vain he calls upon the rocks and mountains to 
fall upon him and hide him. Such was the 
review of my past life to me. God gave me 
talents — he gave me an excellent mother — he 
gave me success in life. But to what purpose 



28 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

have I used all these ? I saw that my time — 
my precious time, my talents, my bodily strength, 
had been wasted on pleasure and vanity. Ban- 
quets, balls, the gaming table, and the wine-cup 
arrayed themselves against me, and rejoiced, like 
the heirs of the miser, that they had so easily 
obtained my substance. I saw death approach, 
and myself brought before the great Judge to 
give account of my life ; and again heavy drops 
of cold sweat rolled over my body." 

Such were some of the feelings and reflections 
of our unhappy convict, on that painful night 
after hearing the verdict of the jury. lie slept 
but an hour, and when the day dawned he 
opened his eyes upon it as the murderer upon the 
day of his execution. And yet, before the day 
was finished, he found himself beginning to trifle, 
as he says, with his situation, and to be ashamed 
of his previous anxiety, as if it were a childish 
weakness. 

One of his chief troubles was, the fear that the 
news of his disgrace would be reported to his 
relatives in Germany. To prevent this he en- 
gaged a friend to burn all his papers, and to 
write to his family that he had gone to sea, to 
parts unknown, and that the time of his return 
was altogether uncertain. For this piece of ser- 



SENTENCE. 29 

vice he was to reward his friend by making him 
heir of all he possessed. 

On the second day after his conviction, he was 
taken to the court-room to hear his sentence, 
which was to a four years' confinement in the 
State prison. Having never seen the inside of 
such a prison, he had conceived an idea of it that 
was sufficiently frightful. He thought it a place 
where men were put to be tortured with stripes 
and starvation. The reality, however, though 
bad enough, surely, at his first entrance, he 
found to be somewhat more tolerable than he 
expected. He saw the prisoners treated still as 
human beings, and not as brutes, and he in time 
became even disposed to think that there were 
some young persons of his acquaintance, for 
whom that place would be a better home than the 
wide world in which they were pursuing their 
tempting pleasures. 



CHAPTER II. 

Removal to Wethersfield — Treatment by the Officers — Gloomy 
Reflections — Thoughts of his Mother — Hebrew Prayers. 

It was on Saturday, December 29th, that Ollen- 
dorff received his sentence, and on Monday, the 
last day of the year 1855, he was called out of his 
cell, and, with irons on his hands, and his arms 
pinioned with a cord, he was taken into a sleigh, 
and removed to his new home in Wethersfield. 
He wept as he passed along, and scarcely dared 
to look up, lest his eyes should meet those of some 
acquaintance. Except answering, in a monosyl- 
lable, to the question of the driver, whether he 
were a foreigner, he was left to pass his whole 
way in silence. 

On reaching the prison, he was delivered over 
into the hands of the deputy warden, who took 
him to the inner part of the prison, where his 
bonds were loosed, and his clothes exchanged for 
the peculiar dress of the convicts. The warden 



TREATMENT BY THE OFFICERS. 31 

then commenced laying before him the rules of 
the establishment, by which he must regulate his 
conduct. Of all these, unfortunately, he under- 
stood nothing, except that, on some occasions, he 
must take off his cop, and on others he might 
expect an application of the cat. The instrument 
of punishment was exhibited before him, but in 
what contingencies it was specially applicable he 
could not comprehend. When he told the war- 
den that he did not understand him, he laughed 
in derision, saying, "Oh! you understand very 
well." The conduct of this warden seems to have 
been inexcusably harsh, and wantonly added 
pain to a heart already wrung with anguish. 

After listening to a long unintelligible talk, the 
prisoner was shown to his lodging place. There, 
for half an hour, he had leisure to contemplate 
himself, and his new dress and accommodations. 
Sitting once more in solitude, in a cell four feet 
wide, in a garb designedly uncouth, he felt him- 
self an outcast, bereft of all human sympathy, 
without God and without hope in the world. 
Afraid and ashamed, he hid his face in his hands, 
and was just about heaping a load of imprecations 
on his fellow-men, and upon himself, when he 
was roused from his posture by a call from the 
unwelcome warden, who now demanded his 



32 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

name, religion, birth-place, and age; measured 
his height, and had him smoothly shaved, and 
his hair cut short. He then took him once more 
to the inner prison, where he had already treated 
him so rudely, and again went through with the 
whole previous ceremony of instruction, after 
which he conducted him to the workshop, and 
gave him in charge to the superintendent. 

This officer exhibited quite a different spirit 
from the other, and gave him some relief from his 
crushing apprehension that he was doomed to 
serve out his four years under a body of cruel, 
domineering masters. 

Having finished his first day's work, he resumed 
his solitary meditations in his cell. Indeed, his 
whole tenor of life was to be one of solitary medi- 
tation ; for, whether in his cell or with his fellow- 
workmen, he must speak to no one, but confine 
his whole attention to his own separate affairs. 
His meditations, for a time, were unremittingly 
sad. His new labor, which drew blood from his 
unused hands, his new discipline, under rules 
which he had not understood, his slavish subjec- 
tion to authority that might easily be abused, — all 
were calculated to embitter his reflections. He 
debated with himself whether it were not better 
to put an end to his life than to drag out a misera- 



MENTAL DISTRESS. 33 

ble existence for four years in such a condition. 
But, to use his own expression, he was either too 
wise, or too much of a coward to seek, too soon, 
a world of which he knew so little. He betook 
himself to his Hebrew prayer-book, and read it 
with new interest, though with the impression that 
God could not be expected to listen to a sinner 
like himself. He longed for a state of complete 
stupidity", and strove to make up his mind to 
receive with indifference whatever might fall to 
his lot. At times he was contriving some way of 
making his escape from the prison, but this he 
soon gave up as hopeless. The walls were too 
thick, and the watchmen too vigilant. 

Again he would recur to his prayer-book, 
where, together with the prayers, he found certain 
Psalms intermingled, which seemed apppropriate 
to his case. These last he read with a feeling 
almost devotional. His favorite Psalm was the 
27th, in which David prays, first, to be indulged 
with a hearing, and afterwards to be delivered 
from the power of his enemies, from " false wit- 
nesses" and "such as breathe out cruelty," and 
closes with the exhortation, " Wait on the Lord. 
Be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine 
heart." 

But whatever he read or did, the thought 
3 



34 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

would be constantly recurring to his mind, "four 
years, four years these walls must compose my 
residence." " Oh, how horrible," he exclaimed, 
" was this thought to me ! Why can not I die ? 
Where is the righteous God ? Why does he not 
help me?" 

His lawyer had given him his word that he 
would endeavor to obtain his release by the 
legislature, and his friends in New York had 
promised him assistance. But whether his law- 
yer would remember his word, or would succeed 
in his attempt, was altogether doubtful ; and as 
for his New York friends, he never heard a syl- 
lable from them, although he had done them 
favors for which they had professed to be grate- 
ful. As he heard no more of release or help 
from any quarter, his stay of four years became, 
in his view, almost certain ; and, impressed with 
his own helplessness, and to some extent with 
his sinfulness, he thought of the judgment to 
which he was hastening. He thought of his 
mother, and the words would escape from him, 
" God, help me." This was the most he dared 
to say. He was abashed when he attempted to 
come before that God whom he had, while in 
liberty, so much dishonored. He felt like the 
dying worldly man, who should profess to be 



JEWISH OPINIONS OF THE MESSIAH. 35 

penitent for sins which he could no longer con- 
tinue to commit, and to be ready to devote his 
life to God when he had but a day to live. 

It is worthy of remark that, in making his 
selection from the prayer-book, he carefully 
avoided those prayers which speak of the coming 
of the Messiah, and the re-building of Jerusalem. 
He had no desire for the arrival of that time, nor 
did he believe that five men in a hundred of his 
nation desired it. The Rabbis had taught him 
that when the Messiah comes, all Jews that are 
alive at the time will be taken up in the air, and 
set down at Jerusalem, and that those who are 
dead will be taken under ground to that city, and 
there be raised up ; and how very few, thought he, 
among the Jews would be willing to leave their 
business and their property, and be taken through 
the air to Jerusalem ! 



CHAPTER III. 

Visit of the Chaplain — Receives a New Testament— Reads cau- 
tiously — Studies English — JSegins to understand Conversation 
and Sermons — Is distressed for his Sins — Prays to God in 
Christ's name— Finds Peace. 

The chaplain of the prison was accustomed, 
once or twice in the week, to visit the cells, for 
the purpose of conversing with the inmates, and 
supplying them with suitable books. On finding 
that this new member of his flock was a German, 
and a Jew, and not having a whole German Bible 
to present him, he handed him a German New 
Testament. When he saw what it was, he re- 
turned it to the chaplain, saying that he was a 
Jew, and giving him to understand, as well as he 
was able, that he could not and would not read 
that book. But on being kindly urged and 
reasoned with, he finally accepted it. He did 
not, however, think of reading the book ; and as 
soon as the chaplain was gone, he threw it aside, 
being vexed that the man should, with all his 



FIRST READING OF THE 1ST. TESTAMENT. 37 

kindness of manner, as he thought, act the part 
of a Jesuit, in attempting to make him a prose- 
lyte to the Christian religion. He abominated 
every thing in the likeness of priestcraft. 

Four long weeks had passed over him since 
, entering his gloomy abode ; no cheering news 
had come to him from without ; his forsaken and 
forlorn situation pressed heavily upon his spirits ; 
the little book, which the chaplain had given him, 
lay there untouched. He thought of looking 
into it, as the novelty of it might relieve some- 
what the tedium of his idleness, and draw off his 
mind from painful reflections. Tet he dreaded 
to touch it, because he would not have done such 
a thing in the presence of his mother, whose 
spirit, though absent from the body, he imagined 
to be always hovering around him, and to be dis- 
tressed at every instance of his misconduct. He, 
however, succeeded in overcoming his scruples, 
persuading himself that there could be no harm 
in amusing himself with the follies of the Chris- 
tian faith, and that even his mother could not 
object to his thus diverting his mind from his 
troubles. 

He took the book, and was struck with surprise 
by seeing, on the very first page, that the 
genealogy of Jesus Christ was traced through the 



38 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

patriarchs and kings of the Old Testament. He 
had thought that the Christians rejected the 
Jewish Scriptures altogether. But he went on 
reading, and found that Jesus was said to be con- 
ceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, and born 
of a virgin ! This doctrine was, in his view, so 
absurd that he now assured himself there was no 
farther danger of his being made a convert to 
Christianity. He read on to the Sermon on the 
Mount, and here again his mind was favorably im- 
pressed. The wisdom, benevolence, and piety 
breathed forth in those words of Jesus, command- 
ed his admiration. In looking into other parts of 
the book, he was particularly attracted by the Epis- 
tle to the Ephesians, and the Epistles of Peter and 
James. The Epistle to the Romans, and the 
Revelation, were to him foolishness. We might 
have supposed that the Epistle to the Hebrews 
would have commended itself to his special 
notice ; but he was not yet prepared to admit the 
divinity of Christ, which is there asserted, nor, 
although a Jew, was he much acquainted with the 
particulars of the temple worship, to which that 
epistle constantly refers. No wonder, then, that 
he did not specially admire it. As he read on, he 
saw things about which he would have been glad 
to draw the chaplain into a dispute. The latter, 



CONVERSATION WITH THE CHAPLAIN. 39 

however, for prudential reasons, and for want of 
sufficient knowledge of the language, contented 
himself for the present with furnishing him well 
selected German tracts. But one day, with the 
intention of provoking the good minister to a 
talk, he said to him, " I can not believe the doc- 
trine that God should have a Son." The chap- 
lain cautiously replied, "Believe in God, then, 
and that will suffice you," meaning, doubtless, 
" Believe truly in your own Jewish Bible, and it 
will lead you right." This reply of the chaplain, 
so different from what he expected, and even 
from what he had wished, made a deeper impres- 
sion on him than a long course of reasoning 
would have done. It stripped him at once of his 
sectarian prejudices. It was a new thought with 
him that a pious Christian and a pious Jew might 
enjoy free religious communion together. He no 
longer harbored the suspicion against the chaplain 
that he was a Jesuit, or a mere proselyter, de- 
ceiving him with cunning priestcraft ; and though 
his answer seemed to leave him at liberty to 
remain a Jew, if he pleased, yet he felt his con- 
victions shaken. " I began," he says, " to view 
Christianity in a purer light, thinking that there 
must be a reality in that religion. Yet the 
thought of the possibility of my becoming a 



40 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

Christian, filled me with horror. And many 
times I jumped up, throwing the little Bible with 
violence on the shelf, and vowing not to touch it 
any more. But, as if drawn by a superior power, 
I reached always after the little book again, as 
soon as I entered my cell, and read it with an 
eagerness that made me, at times, forget to eat my 
meals. I pondered the things I read, day and 
night, working and walking, dreaming and awake. 
I thought of nothing else save religion. But still, 
the thought of leaving the faith of my fathers, 
and of all the sad consequences that would follow 
from it, — the exclusion from the affections of 
dearest friends, — was dreadful, and made me, at 
times, so sorrowful and sad, that I felt more these 
internal trials than the sufferings of the prison." 

The chaplain was moved, (as Ollendorff thought, 
by a higher power) to bestow upon him special 
attention. "His reverend appearance, his kind 
smiles, and affectionate conversation, always 
pleasant and obliging," affected his heart, and he 
felt a love awakened in his breast for him, like 
that of a child to a father. By his advice, being 
furnished with suitable books, he commenced, in 
earnest, the study of the English language. This 
naturally led him to pay stricter attention to the 
sermons and prayers of the good minister, of 



AVERSION TO CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE. 41 

which, previously, he had been able to compre- 
hend but a small part. In a short time he found 
he could understand, in conversation, nearly all 
the chaplain said to him. 

But while his progress in English was going 
on rapidly, his knowledge of his heart, and of the 
doctrines of the gospel, was apparently station- 
ary, if not retrograde. Some of those doctrines 
remained obscure, and repulsive to his mind. He 
continued to admire the purity and piety of the 
Christian .precepts, but some of the doctrines, as 
the Atonement, the Trinity, and some others, 
were stumbling blocks which he could not get 
over. Why could not God forgive sin without a 
sacrifice ? How could God dwell in human flesh? 
&c, were questions about which his mind was in 
a puzzle. He began also to persuade himself that, 
as a prison was no place in which to practice 
religion, and he had four years to stay, he need 
not at present trouble his mind about it. So he 
sought entertainment from his other studies, to 
the neglect of his "little Bible," and for two 
months succeeded but too well in forgetting 
religion, and his own unhappy situation as a sin- 
ner. " But God," he says, " did not want to leave 
me in that state. He wanted to accomplish what 
he had so mercifully begun in me. He wanted 



42 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

to make my trials, my stay in prison, the most 
profitable season of my life." 

Near the close of June, the chaplain addressed 
his Sabbath congregation from the words of 
Elisha to the Shunammite mother : " Is it well 
with thee? Is it well with the child?" The 
preacher may, perhaps, on this occasion, have 
made an unusual effort to use the plainest language ; 
but whether from that cause, or by a special 
divine influence, the German hearer, to his great 
surprise, understood the discourse throughout. 
In conclusion, the preacher pressed the subject 
strongly on the attention of his audience. He 
asked, " What would the mother of any one of 
you be able to answer if the great Judge 
should put to her the question, " Is it well with 
thy child?" And how must that mother feel, 
on looking upon her child, and seeing it is not 
well with him, to hear the sentence pronounced 
upon him, " Depart, thou cursed, into everlasting 
fire." As the preacher said these words, that 
faithful Jewish mother came up in remembrance 
before the mind of her 'child,' and his tears 
flowed copiously. The deep feelings of his heart 
were again moved, and when he came to his cell, 
he seized his New Testament, and commenced 
studying it with increased eagerness. 



FEAR OF DEATH AND THE JUDGMENT. 43 

During the same week there was a death in the 
prison, and at the funeral, that solemn hymn was 
sung, and affected him deeply, which has the 
words : — 

" There is an hour when I must die — 
Nor do I know how soon f t will come." 

He ate his supper in tears. And as he looked 
out from his window, and saw the coffin borne 
along without a single mourner to heave a sigh 
over it, he thought how sad a thing it was to die 
in prison, — to die unwept, and to sleep in a grave 
which no one would ever come to visit. But 
still more dreadful to him was the thought, that 
there was to be something after death. He 
could not answer with a truthful yes to the chap- 
lain's questions, " Is it well with thee ? Is it well 
with the child ? Are you ready to die, and ap- 
pear before the judgment seat of God?" ! He 
then attempted to pray through his tears, but 
could not. He resorted to his Jewish prayer- 
book, but that did not meet his wants, and he 
turned to his " little Bible " with stronger attach- 
ment than ever, for it seemed now to contain, 
indeed, good tidings of great joy, although he 
could not, as yet, appropriate those tidings to his 
own case. 



44 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

While his mind was in this state of tenderness, 
the minister preached another affecting discourse, 
from the words, " There is a friend that sticketh 
closer than a brother." This friend, the preacher 
said, was Christ. There had never been a greater 
friend to the human race than Jesus Christ, who 
left the glory of heaven, and came down to honor 
God's law, and to take on himself the sins of man. 
He suffered shame and death that men might 
live. 

From this discourse Ollendorff seems to have 
obtained his first clear apprehensions of the 
nature and value of the atonement ; and when he 
returned to his cell, he was enabled to offer up 
thanks to God for the interposition of Christ, as 
an atoning sacrifice. Still, of the whole charac- 
ter of that " Lamb of God that taketh away the 
sin of the world," he had, as yet, an imperfect 
understanding. He saw the need of a mediator, 
and rejoiced in his Messiah as such, but neither 
the nature of the office nor the scripture testi- 
mony had yet convinced him that the mediator 
must be truly divine. In conversation with some 
friends who called to see him, he rather obsti- 
nately opposed the doctrine of Christ's real 
divinity, and when his friends were gone, he 
related the circumstance to his respected spiritual 



KEED OF A SAVIOUR. 45 

adviser. He did this apparently with the expec- 
tation of having his theory confirmed ; but the 
chaplain briefly replied, that Jesus " thought it 
not robbery to be equal with God." It was 
another word in season. He meditated on it pro- 
foundly and profitably. 

Again, another discourse, from the words, 
" Thou God seest me," came home to his heart 
with alarming power. In his retirement he took 
a review of all his past life, that he might have an 
idea of what God, who had seen all that he had 
done, must needs think of him. In this review 
he could not discover one righteous act — not an 
act on which he could hang a hope. He was 
therefore convinced that the curse of the law and 
the wrath of God were upon him. His convic- 
tions were further deepened by the perusal of one 
of the " Sixteen Short Sermons," on the words, 
" There is none that doeth good." 

It now began to be sweet to him to contem- 
plate the offer of pardon through the sacrifice of 
Christ. The 53d chapter of Isaiah was examined, 
where it is said, " He was wounded for our trans- 
gressions — he was afflicted, yet he opened not 
his mouth — he made his grave with the rich," 
&c. This account of the death of the Messiah 
was compared with the account of the death of 
Christ in the New Testament, and the latter 



46 MEMOIR OF OLLENDOEFF. 

seemed but a new edition of the former. The 
chaplain's words were now verified, "Believe 
truly in your own scriptures, and it will suffice 
you." The "little Bible" became now so precious 
as to be almost devoured. The middle wall of 
partition was broken down, — the strange*!* and 
foreigner was entering into the household of 
God. Helpless and broken-hearted, he could do 
nothing but weep, and pray to God for help. 
The veil which had remained " untaken away in 
the reading of the Old Testament," was now 
" done away in Christ." Jesus had become his 
acknowledged Messiah, — his divine Redeemer, 
commissioned to preach the way of righteousness, 
and make atonement for our sins. From this 
time he began to pray daily, and to pray in the 
name of Christ. And now, when his sad reflec- 
tions returned upon him like a flood — when the 
thought arose of being cast out of the synagogue, 
and of distressing his family, and especially his 
mother, he had a refuge to repair to. He found 
effectual relief in pouring out his heart before 
that " friend," more faithful than a brother, recom- 
mended to him by his venerable chaplain. He 
'could give up father, mother, brothers, sisters, 
friends,* and all, for Christ, and come into a state 

* Whatever forebodings he may have had of being discarded by his 
family friends, they seem to have been unnecessary. His brother 



REJOICING IN HOPE. 47 

of peace, and hope, and joy in the Lord Jesus, 
as his Saviour. 

Speaking of his condition in prison, at this 
time, he says, " Though I should like to leave 
this place, I have already got to love it, and I 
certainly shall love it as long as I live. I have 
found a peace and happiness here which the 
world can neither give nor take away, and which 
make me freer in this cell than I ever was before. 
Oh, this happiness ! I have found here the great 
treasure of life — have found it so great, so 
heavenly, in a place regarded only as a place of 
suffering and gloom. Had any body told me, in 
the month of. May, after my confinement, that I 
should ever praise God for my trials, as I actually 
did six months afterwards, I should have thought 
him crazy, and would not have believed it even | 
if Elias or Isaiah had made such a revelation." 

writes " Let each man believe as he pleases, and what he pleases." , 
His father's letter to him, on the subject of his change, contains 
neither threats, reproaches, nor reproofs. He merely begs, with all 
mildness, and accompanied with apologies, that his " beloved son " 
will no more write to him about the Old and New Testaments, nor 
any Bible passages — he is very well acquainted with them already, ' 
and it will be of no use to refer to them — he will not, in his old age, 
engage in any dispute about his religion — the better way for both 
parties is, to let each one follow his own opinions and convictions. He 
begs, once and again, that his son will carefully comply with this 
request, and not take it amiss of his " aged father." His subsequent 
letters abundantly showed that his paternal desire for the health 
and prosperity of his son had suffered no diminution. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Efforts for his Liberation — Correspondence with his Friends — Re- 
ligious Enjoyment — Final Release — Is received into the Author's 
Family — Dr Hawes' Discourse — Unites with the Church — Wins 
his Pastor's Confidence — Enters East Windsor Academy. 

During the season of his anxiety, and inquiry 
after truth, he was much comforted and en- 
couraged by finding that there were persons in 
Hartford who thought of him, and who were 
intending, if possible, through the Legislature, to 
shorten the term of his confinement. They 
visited him at the prison, corresponded with him, 
and in various other ways cheered his spirits, and 
promoted his religious inquiries. Such attention, 
from these persons, was unexpected, and in the 
forsaken condition to which his Jewish friends 
had abandoned him, he received this new prov- 
idence as an indication that his renouncing the 
Jewish, and accepting the Christian religion, met 
with the divine approval. From his correspond- 
ence with these friends, and particularly with the 



LETTER TO MRS. K. 49 

lady * who was most earnest in the efforts that 
were made for his liberation, we may learn some- 
thing of the state and progress of his mind after 
his conversion. 

In February he writes : — 

" Dear Friend, — Do not withdraw your hand 
from one just entered on the infancy of Chris- 
tianity, fresh and strong, indeed, in the belief of 
the exalted character of Christ, yet helpless as a 
little child in the practice of his religion. I have 
now more need than ever of a faithful friend and 
leader in the narrow way which leads through 
a wilderness world to eternal life. 

" I wonder that you are surprised at my ex- 
pression of being happy, and convinced of sin, at 
the same time ; for indeed this is my feeling and 
experience just now. I am happy in having 
found, in you, a true friend. I am happy in hav- 
ing obtained from God that feeling of love and 
gratitude for my blessed Redeemer, whom he 
sanctified, and sacrificed for my sin. At the same 
time, while rejoicing, and sometimes lamenting, 
at the sacrifice he so willingly made for the human 
race, I feel myself so great a sinner that I often 
think the tidings too great to be true, especially 
when I view my former life, how I lived without 

* Mrs. James Killam. 

4 



50 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

God and without hope in the world; how I 
mocked God with my prayers, when, after the man- 
ner of the Jews, I read twenty-nine pages at once 
out of the Hebrew prayer-book, without any of 
that communion with God which I now enjoy. 
In former times I submitted to my afflictions as a 
thing I had no power to change ; but now I look 
at them as a chastisement, or rather mercy of 
God ; for, curious as it may seem, I now never 
forget, in my prayers, to thank God for having 
brought me here, for thus he kills my corruptions, 
and brings me to himself." 

Under date of March 21st, he writes thus : — 
"I enjoy still excellent health, and a submission 
to the will of God, which makes me contented 
in my present condition, and lets me look for- 
ward with a perfect quiet to whatsoever it shall 
please God to appoint for me, for he must needs 
know best what is proper for me. The expres- 
sion, c I am happy,' has been in reality applica- 
ble to me during the last two months, — when it 
pleased God to enlighten me by his Holy Spirit, 
and to give me clear views of his God-head, of 
his creation, of his word, and of myself — when I 
began to see, as Paul says, that £ in me, that is, in 
my flesh, there dwelleth no good thing.' Ever 
since, I have enjoyed a mental peace, and, at 



JOY AND GRATITUDE. 51 

times, a happiness I can not express, and which I 
formerly thought impossible, especially within the 
walls of a prison ; but as I experience it now my- 
self, I can not doubt it more than my existence. 
At the same time, when I compare what I enjoy 
with what I deserve, I am humbled to the dust. 
But the more humble I get, the more I feel the 
divine presence in my prayers and devotional 
exercises, and consequently am the more happy." 

In April he says to his friend, — " Please to 
express my thanks to Mrs. P. for her beautiful 
lines, and German New Testament. The good 
chaplain gave me one about a year ago. Without 
it I should hardly have been so far instructed in 
the way to heaven. I have also been allowed to 
attend, since November last, the chaplain's Bible 
class, which has proved to me great advantage 
and pleasure." 

In the month following, when he had reason to 
expect his deliverance ere long, he opens his 
heart thus : — 

" It is a strange feeling when I think that a 
fortnight will, perhaps, open for me these heavy 
iron doors forever, that I shall again breathe un- 
tainted air, and walk unfettered among my fellow- 
men — that I shall again be able to feed my free 
eyes on the beautiful blue throne of God, and his 



52 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

green footstool — that I shall again behold all the 
manifold wonders and beauties of nature, with a 
renewed sense of their splendor, and of the glory 
of their Maker ; and above all, that I shall be able 
to pay unto the Lord my vows, to walk, of my 
own free impulse, to the house of God, and to 
mingle my voice with the children of heaven, in 
the free songs of praise to the great Jehovah. 

" It is so sweet to fancy myself on the top of 
some green hills, on a beautiful morning, waiting 
the first rising of the sun, when he cometh * out 
of his bride-chamber,' to see there the peaceful 
lambs feeding in green pastures, and amidst this 
delightful scenery to hear the cheerful sound of a 
village church-bell coming over the landscape; 
so sweet is this, that I at times seem possessed 
of the reality, and can not make up my mind that 
my hopes may be vain, and that for long years, 
and perhaps for ever, I shall see no more of 
nature than this square yard of green grass, and 
a square yard of the blue skies, and hear no other 
bell than that of a prison." 

On the 8th of May he received a visit from his 
friends, and, two days after, he writes as follows : 
— " The last two days were the most pleasant I 
have spent for a long time. Though destitute of 
society, I enjoyed so much the company of my 



JOY AND GRATITUDE. 53 

own thoughts, that I can assure you of the truth 
of the proverb, ( A cheerful mind is never with- 
out company.' I shall consider it one of the 
happiest events of my life, when I can do any- 
thing to show the gratitude I feel, but can not 

express Fortune spreads so richly her 

golden arms over me that I am almost afraid of. 
it, for it seems, indeed, too good to be all at once 
so favored. A German poet says : — 

" I never saw a peaceful end 

To one on whom, with liberal hand, 
The gods their benefits did spend." 

A week later, contemplating the possibility of 
the failure of his friends 5 efforts to procure his 
release, he says, " I thank my God, who has 
enabled me to look on the coming event with a 
quiet which only God can give. Even in case of 
a failure of all your great trouble, there will re- 
main so many blessings with which God has sur- 
rounded me in this cell, as not to lessen my grati- 
tude and submission toward our bountiful Father. 

. . • . Many thanks to Mr. for all the pains 

he is taking for me. May God remember all 
your kindness to me, a prisoner, an entire stran- 
ger. One blest assurance I find for my kind 
friends in Matthew 25 : 33-40." * 

* I was in prison and ye came unto me." " Inasmuch as ye did it 
unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me." 



54 MEMOIR OP OLLENDORFF. 

But his hopes were not to be disappointed. 
The petition for his liberation was supported by 
such a list of respectable names, and so much 
favorable evidence was presented to the Legisla- 
ture, that they granted the request of the peti- 
tioners, and on Monday, June 8th, the chaplain 
was able to announce to him the cheering intelli- 
gence. His farewell to the prison may be given 
in his own words : — 

"At length the long expected Wednesday, 
June 10th, arrived. About three o'clock I was 
summoned into the hall. From thence the war- 
den took me into the room where the garments 
of the prisoners are preserved. I received my 
dress in which I arrived at the prison, took my 
books out of my cell, and soon had the joy of 
seeing my friends in the office. There the chap- 
lain gave me some good advice. The warden 
gave me two dollars, and I soon took leave of 
them. A carriage waited at the door. I was 
soon seated comfortably by the side of my kind 
friends, and had the pleasure of seeing the 
prison receding. Yet I could not but look at the 
walls, that bury so much misery, as long as pos- 
sible. What I said to my friends I do not know. 
My mind was so much struck with the enjoyment 
of all around me that I lost all recollection. My 



RELEASE. COMES TO HARTFORD 55 

eyes filled with tears as often as I turned them 
upon my friends. They took me to their house, 
telling me they thought it best to bring me there 
first, that people might see that they had no 
unkind feeling against me." 

This last act of generous, self-denying kind- 
ness, to a stranger, fresh from the walls of a 
prison, was one which few, perhaps, would have 
been equally ready to perform. It was an act 
most honorable to those friends, and one which 
now they can not but reflect upon with grateful 
pleasure. 

After coming to the city, the liberated man 
was further left free, in regard to his choice where 
he should worship, and whom he should choose, 
among the ministers, for his religious adviser. 
By the counsel of his friends, he called on 
Rev. Dr. Hawes, of the Center church, and finally 
made choice of him as his pastor. 

" I received him," says Dr. H.,* " kindly, but 
with caution, as I felt myself bound to do, in the 
circumstances of the case. But the more I saw 
of him, the more he won my confidence, till at 
length I received him to my bosom, with warm 
affection, as a sincere disciple of Jesus, and a 
striking example of the power of divine grace. 

* In a public discourse occasioned by his death. 



56 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

Nor did I ever after, in all my intercourse with 
him, see or hear the least thing to shake my con- 
fidence, or lead me, for a moment, to suspect I 
had misplaced my regard for him. He was one 
of the most affectionate, confiding persons I ever 
knew. He opened his whole heart, I believe, to 
me, and let me into his whole history, and every- 
thing which I, or other friends, did for him, was 
repaid with the warmest gratitude and love. 

" From the time he was set at liberty he was 
exceedingly anxious to obtain some employment 
by which he might support himself. But no 
place opening, he was, after a few weeks, received 
into the family of the Rev. Mr. Bird, where he 
could pursue study, and receive such counsel as 
he needed to aid him in his Christian course. 

" On the first Sabbath in October, 1857, having 
been four months out of prison, and having been 
duly examined and propounded for admission, he 
was received as a member of the church. As he 
came forward to receive baptism, my heart," con- 
tinues Dr. H., " was deeply moved, as was his, 
and that of many others present. It was a scene 
of tender interest ; a descendant of Israel, a stran- 
ger, and recently a prisoner, but now a freed man 
of the Lord, and a member of the household of 
faith, coming forward to acknowledge Jesus as 



PROFESSION OF RELIGION. 57 

the promised Messiah of his fathers, and to re- 
ceive him as his Saviour by an open profession of 
his name. 

" From my first acquaintance with him, I had 
observed in him a warm heart, and an earnest 
desire to do good ; and I often said that, if the 
Lord had made him a good man, as I believed he 
had, he meant to do something more for him, 
and with him. In this view, I watched the 
course of events, hoping that Providence might 
open the way for him to pursue a course of study 
with reference to his being fitted for usefulness, 
especially among his Jewish brethren, for whom 
he felt the deepest sympathy. 

"In the autumn and winter of 1857, he was 
employed, during most of his time, in circulating 
religious books and periodicals. For this object 
he visited East Windsor, and there, being intro- 
duced by a note, accompanied with a letter from 
myself to Rev. Professor Lawrence, he was 
kindly received into his family, and soon my 
desire was gratified, and his more so, by his 
becoming a member of the academy in that place, 
and entering at once upon studies designed to 
j)repare him for a more thorough course in the- 
ology. His progress was in every respect satis- 
factory. Quick of apprehension, retentive of 



58 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

memory, and thoroughly engaged in his work, he 
secured the confidence and love of his instructors, 
and of all who knew him, and high hope was 
entertained that he would, ere long, be fitted to 
do much good in the world. 

"At the close of the summer term of the 
academy, impelled by his desire to be useful, he 
visited Broad Brook and Rockville, with the 
view of holding meetings, and circulating reli- 
gious tracts and books among the Germans of those 
manufacturing villages. In both these places, but 
especially in the latter, where he mostly labored, 
he drew around him many warm hearts, and was 
evidently accomplishing a great work, and, judg- 
ing from his letters, and from conversations with 
him at the time, I doubt whether there was ever 
a creature happier in doing good than he." 



CHAPTER V. 

Letters to his Pastor —Active Labors — Broad Brook — Distribution 
of Sunday School Books and Tracts, &c. 

The following series of letters to his pastor, is 
here inserted to show with what readiness and 
success, and with what enjoyment^ Ollendorff 
entered upon the active duties of a Christian dis- 
ciple. He that can read these letters, and still 
believe that an unconverted Jew could write them, 
and could confirm their truth by exhibiting to all 
around him a corresponding life, may as well 
believe, contrary to Scripture, that the hypocrite 
" will delight himself in the Almighty, and always 
call upon God." (Job 27 : 10.) 

« East Windsor Hill, June 28, 1858. 

" Rev. and Dear Pastor : — ... A somewhat 

encouraging, and, to me, very cheerful event, 

which I have to communicate to you, together 

with a request which I will allow myself to make, 



60 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

are the chief inducements for my troubling you 
to-day with these lines. 

According to my resolution, I went, last Satur- 
day afternoon, to Broad Brook, provided with 
fifty large tracts for children. For a small piece 
of money I procured a little boy to show me all 
the houses where Germans live. I visited for 
about three hours or so, but of the number I am 
unable to give an estimate. I have been assured 
that I visited all. I conversed with each indi- 
vidually, distributed all my tracts, which were 
received with delight and greediness, and invited 
them to attend a German meeting, conducted by 
myself, on Sunday afternoon. I found eighteen 
persons possessing no Bible at all, and a great 
many there were who valued the Bible which 
they possess so much as to shut it up, that it 
might not be spoiled by handling ! 

"They all expressed joy at my promising them 
to establish a Sabbath School, procure Bibles for 

them, and hold a small meeting Having 

obtained the Rev. Mr. B.'s lecture room, I went 
to the Sabbath School, made my intention there 
known, brought also the condition of the Germans 
before the teachers, and requested them to aid in 
the good work. At three o'clock I repaired to 
the lecture room, but found it empty. After I 



MEETING FOB THE GERMANS. 61 

had been waiting about ten minutes, they 
came rushing in, and filled all the benches of the 
room, men, women, and children, of every age 
and description. I estimated them to number 
about eighty. I felt greatly embarrassed, and 
reproached my own self for my arrogance, at see- 
ing such a crowd, because I did not expect more 
than ten or twelve. But after a short silent 
prayer, I found myself strengthened, and armed 
with the power I needed. I prayed, read a 
hymn, read also the second chapter of James, and 
after making some remarks on the chapter, 
especially on verses 19th and 20th,* I read in con- 
nection, part of a tract entitled, c How Religion 
is to be preached in Daily Life,' and closed with 
another hymn, and a prayer. 

" They were all very attentive, and when I in- 
vited those wishing to form a Sabbath School to 
remain, between thirty and forty young men and 
women remained. One man opposed, and they 
asked leave to consider the matter, and requested 
me to come again in fourteen days. I promised 
to do so, if God permit. 

" Mr. and Mrs. B., who gave me the kindest re- 
ception imaginable, think favorably of my coming 
there for a few Sabbaths, and trying to bring the 

* " Devils believe." " Faith without works, is dead." v 



62 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

Sabbath School into proper arrangement. ... It 
is a pitiful sight to see a community of foreign- 
ers, brought up as Christians, relapsing into 
thoughtlessness, in the mjdst of Christian in- 
fluences ; and most gladly would I like to divide 
my coat and crumb of bread with them, if so I 
could do them some little spiritual good.* I know 
that my aid and labor is but very weak, and could 
be of little use to them, but my trust is in the 
Lord, who is strong in weakness, and who some- 
times uses weak and unworthy means to accom- 
plish something in his vineyard. 

"About 25 Bibles, in the German language, and 
some New Testaments, would be very desirable. 
Not knowing how else to procure these Bibles, 

* In 'a letter to a converted Jewish friend, under date May 17, 
1858, he expresses a similar anxiety for the salvation of his " kins- 
men, of the seed of Abraham." ..." Sometimes," he says, "I feel 
such a fervent desire to labor actually for the benefit of my poor 
brethren according to the flesh, to the glory of our Lord, and the 
advancement of his kingdom, that the time of preparation becomes 
a heavy burden to me. Then I feel as if I must go, amidst difficulties 
and dangers, to tell, to an unbelieving generation, what the Lord 
has done for my soul, and what infinite mercy and happiness are pre- 
pared for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. • . . Can 
we, converted Jews, do nothing in behalf of our brethren ? Can we 
do nothing to arouse the Christians to take a lively interest in the 
conversion of Israel? Israel's conversion would become the greatest 
blessing to all the world, because it is not in the nature of a Jew to 
hide the heavenly treasure in his bosom, or to put the light under a 
bushel." 



THE "ISRAELITE INDEED." 63 

allow me to make the humble request, whether 
you would not be so kind to procure them for 
me from the American Bible Society, and direct 
them to the care of Rev. Mr. B., of Broad Brook. 

" Please, my dear pastor, pardon the liberty I 
thus take, in troubling you as I do, with so many 
things. My heart leaps for joy at the mere possi- 
bility that I may do this people some good. Yet, 
should the enterprise prove a failure, I shall at 
least have the consciousness of having gone to 
the work with a fervent heart, and done the best 
I could. . . . 

" I have received half a dozen numbers of the 
* Israelite Indeed,' published monthly, in New York, 
by Mr. Epstein, and another Jewish convert. From 
this I learn the Lord is opening again the win- 
dows of mercy to his despised, yet beloved chosen 
people. Many conversions have taken place 
among the Jews. They are willing to enter into 
discussion ; and in Holland two Jewish Christian 
churches have- been built, exclusively by Jews. 
A happy day seems to be dawning for that so 
long rejected people, and my heart beats quicker 
when I pray for my relatives at home. 

" Nearly a year has now elapsed since first the 
privilege was granted me to see you, and many, 
very~many and great, have been the blessings 



64 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

which have been poured upon me by your kind- 
ness, while I, on my part, have not only not been 
able to show myself worthy of this kindness, but 
have not been able to make you the least re- 
turns. I should despair of ever doing so, were it 
not that I have confidence that he who has per- 
mitted you to do thus much for me, will have yet 
some good for me to do, and that so all my 
friends may have the assurance that their kind- 
ness has been approved on high." 

"Broad Brook, July 19th. 

"Rev. Sir:- — Many thanks to you for your 
kind letter, and for the confidence which the 
Committee, on your account, have placed in me. 
Be assured it will always be my utmost endeavor 
to make it my second motive of action to show 
myself worthy of the kindness of my esteemed 
friends. I say the second motive, because I shall 
continually strive to be actuated, in the first 
place, by love to that God and Saviour who has 
done much more for me than any earthly friend 
can do. 

" You call a compensation of five dollars small. 
I am at variance in that point with you. I call 
it much; and would have been thankful if only 
my board had been paid. As it is, I shall, thanks 



VISITING. SABBATH SCHOOLS. . 65 

be to God, be enabled to defray some other 
expenses, or give some away. 

" Not knowing how to address a report to the 
Committee, allow me to give you an account of 
my proceedings till now, and my plans for the 
future. I shall be very glad and thankful, if you 
would be so kind as to correct anything wrong in 
my proceedings or plan of action for the future, 
and make me some of your suggestions. 

" I arrived here Friday evening, and was in- 
vited to attend an English prayer-meeting, the 
pastor being absent. On Saturday I visited 
German families, and had, with six persons, some 
extended religious conversation. . . . Most of 
them expressed their willingness to receive in- 
structions from the Bible, and to send their 
children to me during the week. Some were 
afraid of proselytism. But I told them in public 
that it is not my intention to make them prose- 
lytes to any particular denomination, but merely 
would like to teach them the Bible, and the 
religion of Christ, and then let them follow the 
dictates of their hearts. 

"There Avere, in the Sabbath School, yesterday 

afternoon, twelve persons who came as pupils, 

and about eight others who came to listen. I 

appointed them a meeting every evening in the 

5 



66 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

week, at seven o'clock, but only six were willing to 
attend during the week. To those not employed 
in the factory, I appointed a meeting every after- 
noon at three. The children I asked to come 
from four to six, and intend to go visiting from 
two to three. The forenoon I intend to employ 
for study and writing, and to see those that are 
willing to call upon me. 

" Oh that God might work, through me, in this 
place, for the conversion of many sinners! I can 
not describe to you the joy I feel when permitted 
to speak of Christ, of God, of the Bible, to my 
fellow-men. What a wonderful thing ! A few 
months ago, I was a despised, rejected prisoner, 
ignorant of the way of salvation through Christ, 
and now I am permitted to proclaim the words 
of life to others." 

"Broad Brook, July 24th. 

" Rev. and dear Pastor: — Many thanks for the 
books, tracts, and Testaments which I received, 
through Mr. Hosmer, last Wednesday. The 
books and tracts are read with great greediness, 
and I trust and pray that the Holy Spirit may 
soften their hearts, and thus prepare the soil for 
the reception of the good seed. 

" I have held a meeting for reading and explain- 



WEEKLY MEETINGS. 67 

ing the Scriptures, every evening of the week, 
with an attendance of fourteen to eighteen. Most 
of these are attentive and bright, and if, by the 
guidance of the divine Spirit, I am enabled to 
follow the right course, I doubt not I shall be 
able to do some good to a few of them. ... I 
have held conversations with about fifteen, in 
their houses, while visiting in the afternoon. . . . 
It has not been possible for me to study much 
this week, because, beside the preparation which 
I was obliged to make, I had frequent calls, which 
occupied much of my other leisure time." 

" Broad Brook, July 30th. 
" Dear Pastor : — Though nothing of any im- 
portance has occurred to me during the last week, 
I deem it a privilege to be permitted to give you 
an account of what is going on here. Last Sun- 
day I had, to my distress, only six in the school, 
the others having preferred to go to their excur- 
sions and other objects. When I speak to them 
about this, as well as of any other religious sub- 
ject, I find them ready to say, c Oh yes, you are 
perfectly right, we will do as you say ; ' but as 
their practice does not agree with their words, I 
conclude they say this to get rid of me in the 
most polite and quickest manner. . . . 



68 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

" The afternoon school for children, during the 
week, is still regularly attended by some fifteen 
children. Not being accustomed to the govern- 
ment of children, I find it rather hard to keep 
them quiet and attentive. I have succeeded in 
teaching them the Lord's Prayer in German, and 
several stories of the Bible, besides to spell and 
write a little. 

" The evening school is still continued. Four 
new pupils came last night. 

"A rather singular trouble took place in my 
school room last Saturday night. ... A man 
burst out with threats and oaths upon me, accus- 
ing me of having destroyed the peace of his 
house, and telling me he did not wish his wife to 
read and pray, which only prevented her from 
doing her duty towards him. I begged his par- 
don if, in any way, I had interfered with his com- 
fort, and told him, in a calm but firm manner, the 
object of my coming here. He said, 'The Ger- 
mans don't wish that nonsense talk of religion,' 

and that I do not teach and speak like Mr. , 

who had preached here sometimes, and who had 
told them that Christ was only a common man, 
&c. Several Germans were present, all going 
against religion; but after two hours' conversa- 
tion, we parted as great friends, all promising to 



LABORS IN ROCKVILLE. 69 

read the Bible, and consider the subject about 
which we had been conversing. I dwelt, in my 
conversation, chiefly on the proofs of the exist- 
ence of God, the truthfulness of the Bible, and 
the certainty of a retribution. 

" I went yesterday to Rockville. By the 
aid of Mr. Preston, I canvassed two factories, 
and most of the families ; supplied some with 
Testaments, and gave others directions how to 
obtain them through Mr. P. I found some very 
excellent Christians among the Germans in Rock- 
ville, but also some persons of very different 
character.* By the aid of Mr. P. I was enabled 
to supply three children with shoes, and other 
necessary clothing, which want had prevented 
them from going to Sabbath School. They were 
rejoiced, and felt happy, and I was made real 
happy with them. 

"Before I entered on this kind of labor, I 
knew only this kind of Christian happiness by 

* Mr. P., in commendation of Ollendorff, writes to Dr. XL, under 
date August 12th : " Mr. O. came to our village a stranger, and upon 
inquiry, hearing that I was much interested in laboring among the 
Germans, came to me for advice in reference to some extra effort 
being put forth here. I received him with some suspicion, having 
been imposed upon once last summer; but, after some conversation, 
consented to canvass the village with him. In our labors that day, 
I was very favorably impressed with his Christian patience and for- 
bearance, in some circumstances of trial which we encountered. 



70 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

report, but now I have experienced it several 
times, and I would not like to change my prospect 
of future activity in that way, for all the pleasures 
and gratification that my former friends and life 
could bestow. Oh ! it is a blessed thing, dear 
pastor, and worth living for, to tell a sinner of 
the goodness and mercy of Christ, even when that 
sinner treats us ill for it. Would to God I had 
more knowledge, more of the meek and humble 
spirit of Christ, and more of that wisdom from 
above, to fit me for such a work. 

"At the urgent request of some of the Germans 
at Rockville, I have agreed to spend next Sunday 
with them, to form a German class in the Sabbath 
School, to which about thirty young persons 
have promised to come. Mr. P. and the Rev. 
Mr. C. have been very active laborers in the 
German vineyard of the Lord, Mr. C. having had 
some interesting conversions among that class of 
the population, and quite a number are members 
of his church. 

"I shall feel sadly not to be able to be in 
my place at your communion next Sabbath, 
this being the first time that I shall have been 
absent, on such an occasion, since I took upon 
me the vows of the Lord. But I think our own 
enjoyments ought to be made second to those 



REJOICING IN LABOR. 71 

duties which we owe to religion and our fellow- 
men ; therefore I hope I shall be able to bear 
that denial with a submissive Christian spirit." 

" Broad Brook, Auf ust 10th. 

" Rev. and dear Pastor : — Allow me to solicit, 
by these lines, your kind counsel, and permission, 
to go for a few weeks to Rockville. Mr. P. has 
undoubtedly told you some reasons for it. To 
these reasons I would add that, in consequence of 
certain difficulties, I could do no more to increase 
my usefulness in this place. ... A young man, 
a Christian, is willing to take charge of my adult 
class, on my leaving. The vacation of the children 
will be at an end at the close of this week, and 
it will be rather hard to gather them daily, after 
having been all the day in school. 

"I have enjoyed my labors here greatly. I 
only wish I could have done something more sub- 
stantial. I would be most happy, if better pre- 
pared, to follow such employment all the days of 
my life. In speaking to my countrymen about 
the things of Christ, and their souls' salvation, I 
have often felt so happy that I really was afraid 
it was too much enjoyment for earth, but es- 
pecially for a sinner like me. 

" I held a meeting for prayer and exhortation, 



72 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

with some eighteen to twenty Germans, in this 
place, last Sunday morning. I had expected 
many more to be present, as it was at their special 
request that the meeting was appointed. After 
that I went to Rockville, and arranged a German 
Bible class, and held there a meeting, in the 
afternoon, similar to the one at Broad Brook. I 
have promised Mr. P. to come there next Friday, 
to visit with him, again, the German families. I 
would be very glad if before then I could receive 
from you a definite answer with respect to my 
going there. I have visited daily here, and there 
is not one German in the place that is not sup- 
plied with the Bible, or New Testament, or some 
good tract. Last week a man came six miles, 
from Warehouse Point, for a Bible, which gave 
me much joy. . . . 

" Dear pastor, allow me to express to you my 
heart-felt gratitude for the many benefits I have 
received from your hands and your lips. May 
Heaven grant I may not shame your kindness, nor 
that great name by the which I am called." . . . 



CHAPTER VI. 

Labors at Rockville — Joy in his Work — Commencement of Sick- 
ness. 

" Rockville, August 24th. 
" My very dear Pastor, and father in the Lord : 
— My heart is rejoicing with an exceeding great 
joy before the Lord, for his wonderful, infinite 
goodness to me. The Lord has been with me 
in whatsoever I commenced in his vineyard in 
this place. He has assisted me when I have 
spoken of his name and goodness ; and thanks be 
to him, I feel a happiness in my breast, which 
was formerly entirely unknown to me, and which 
leads me to entertain the hope that my labors 
will not be entirely in vain. I look forward, with 
sorrow, to the time when I shall have to leave 
these Germans, and were I not persuaded that it 
is for the glory of the kingdom of Christ, and for 
my own good, to prepare myself for greater use- 
fulness, I dare say, no power on this earth could 
induce me to leave my post. 



74 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

" I have neglected, in some measure, my studies, 
for which I feel very sorry, but the enjoyment of 
the labors in which I have been engaged was so 
intoxicating to me, that I hardly had thought for 
anything else. And as long as God grants unto 
me the spirit of faith and hope, I shall not, on the 
whole, repent having done so. ... 

"The more I enjoy Christianity, the more do 
I feel my heart filled with love towards all men, 
and at times my stubborn will finds it hard to 
submit to a three years' inactive preparation, 
while I might go and be telling people what 
Christ has done for my soul. 

" My heart is also filled with love and grati- 
tude towards those who, in the hand of God, 
have been instrumental of my conversion, and to 
you, dear pastor, who, by your kind teachings, 
counsels and instruction, have strengthened the 
weak foundation of piety in my heart. I espe- 
cially now* remember, with delight and gratitude, 
the Thursday evening lectures, and one, in par- 
ticular, on John 15 : 8,* I can never forget. 
Since I heard it I have always tried to regulate 
my religious practices, in some measure, accord- 
ing to that lecture. 

" If I am to go to Andover, would you allow 

* u That ye bear much fruit." 



ADDRESSES THE TURNER ASSOCIATION. 75 

me, first, to go for a day to New York? I 
would like to see my Jewish Christian friends 
there, and go once to a real German meeting 
as I never yet have been to one." 

"Rockville;' Sept. 5th. 

" Rev. and dear Pastor : — It was my intention 
to come to see you before I go, for good, to East 
Windsor Hill, but remembering a poor boy who 
had asked me for a pair of shoes the other day, I 
thought the money for my fare might be spent 
more profitably in that way, and so I laid out my 
last money for that purpose. 

" I have appointed here, meantime, a meeting 
every alternate Sabbath, and in Ellington on 
every first Sabbath in the month. I shall also 
try to arrange a similar thing in Broad Brook. 
The Germans manifested a good deal of feeling 
when I told them that I have now to leave. 

"Last Friday I was invited to address the 
Turner Association, at the dedication of their new 
hall. They assemble there for gymnastical exer- 
cises, and I tried to convince them that the spirit 
and mind need more exercise than the body. 
Four young men spoke, even there, to me about 
religion, and one, who was afraid, like one of old, 
to come to me during the day, conversed with me 



76 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

till after midnight. I told him all I had to say, 
but chiefly and finally, that it is neither in my, 
nor his, nor any man's power to make him a 
Christian. For this he must look to God, in 
prayer offered in faith and hope, through Jesus 
Christ." 

" September 7th. 

"... The weekly and Sabbath meetings are 
attended as regularly as formerly ; but, with the 
exception of three added to the Sabbath School, 
there has been no increase to our meetings. 

"A Catholic woman, in whose family I had 
visited, and left appropriate tracts, gave me a 
small sum to put into a Protestant mission box, 
and requested me to give them a Bible, which I 
gladly did. Last week, while at the evening 
meeting, a young German skeptic handed mean 
article against Christianity, requesting me to read 
it, and give him my opinion ; but he has not 
shown himself again, though I sent him word that 
I am ready to debate with him the question, in 
the presence of the other Germans. . . . 

"I am still visiting every day, sometimes in 
company with some of the brethren here. 

"I have had an invitation to go to Elling- 
ton, four miles from here, to see the Germans, 



HESITATION AS TO DUTY. 77 

and shall, God permitting, go there to-morrow, or 
Thursday, to arrange matters for a meeting, next 
Sunday evening. On Saturday I am to be at 
Broad Brook, to stay over the Sabbath, and on 
my return to stop at Ellington. I had a letter 
from Broad Brook, and was informed that the 
German class is flourishing. . . . 

"... I felt very bad when I thought that you, 
dear pastor, should have so much trouble about 
me. Much I feel the need, nay, the desire is 
almost knit to my very existence, to go to the 
Seminary to gain that fitness which is necessary 
in active labor. But I have asked myself con- 
tinually, since my return from Hartford, whether, 
under the circumstances, it would be right in me 
to accept the sacrifices of my Christian brethren 
and fathers, to enable me to pursue my studies. 
I have prayed much about it, but my mind 
is not yet enlightened. Allow me to submit the 
question to your decision. I shall do as the Lord 
shall direct me, through your mouth ; and may 
the Lord guide your judgment." 

" East Windsor Hill, Oct. 11th. 
"Rev. and dear Pastor: — Many thanks for 
your kind assistance ; may the Lord bless you 
for it an hundred fold, and may he grant that the 



78 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

seeds of kindness, love and goodness, which you 
cast into my heart, may spring up into a visible 
tree, and bear fruit manifold to the glory of my 
Master and Lord. 

" Before I left Rockville 1 went to take leave 
of almost all the German families, and introduced 
to some of them the Rev. Mr. C, who kindly 
offered to visit frequently some of the most in- 
teresting persons. I have appointed a meeting 
to be held every fortnight, and shall go there, the 
Lord permitting, next Sabbath. 

'Last Saturday, towards evening, I walked 
over to Broad Brook. Being rather tired, I could 
not see, that evening, many families. Only six 
adults attended the appointed meeting, which I 
did not conduct in the usual way, but had, instead, 
only religious conversation. I am not willing to 
give up so, but have appointed them another 
meeting in fourteen days. 

"I arrived here on Thursday morning, and 
took rooms with another junior student. For 
want of previous study, I could not be allowed 
the pecuniary bounty bestowed upon some others, 
although Professor L. would have liked to have 
me enjoy it. But, dear pastor, I still feel that the 
eternal God yet lives and reigns, and I am enabled, 
thanks to him, to look hopefully and cheerfully 



'enters the familt of professor l. 79 

into the future. I have entered into the arena 
of the Christian race, and either conquering or 
falling, I will be found struggling for the favor of 
him who redeemed me with his own heart-blood. 
I am resolved to go forward, and should I fall 
three times, to rise the fourth, again to renew the 
fight of faith. 

" Professor L. kindly offers to board me for one 
dollar and a half per week, including washing, 
for which I, on the other hand, feel glad to do 
some things around the house. This I consider 
a favor from the hand of the Lord, and for which 
I give him thanks, and praise, and honor. How 
true are the words of our Saviour, Matthew vi. : 
25-30, 'Behold the fowls of the air,' &c. I have 
tried, and shall always try, to practice according 
to the motto you gave me, 'Have courage, have 
hope, faith, and love;* and while I do this I 
know that all will be well. 

" Till now I have got on very well in my 
studies, and trust I shall be able to run along 
with the others, while we remain together. My 
time will be occupied continually, and therefore 
I shall not be able to come to Hartford during 
the term, as I would like to do." .... 



80 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

It was in the midst of these bright prospects, 
and joyful anticipations of usefulness, that he was 
arrested by the disease which finally terminated 
his life. No wonder that when he found himself 
obliged to lay aside his beloved studies, and give 
up his meetings, he felt the disappointment most 
keenly, and occasionally, for a short season, gave 
expression to his impatience. His new trials and 
weaknesses, developed by his sickness, are feel- 
ingly set forth by him in the following letter, the 
last of the series addressed to his pastor : — 

"January 8th, 1859. 
" My very dear Pastor : — Thanks be to the 
Lord, who has given me this day strength suffi- 
cient to sit down and write to you. Your kind 
letter, for which I looked with great longing 
almost daily, has greatly rejoiced and affected 
me, and, I trust, done me good. My sickness has 
already proved a great blessing to my soul, and, 
I trust, will continue to be so through life and 
eternity. I have seen, more clearly, my wicked 
heart, the mass of depravity that was seated there, 
(and in some degree shows itself still.) I have 
seen more of my ungratefulness towards God for 
his innumerable blessings, than ever before in all 
my Christian course. All these feelings made me 



SICKNESS. TEMPTATIONS. 81 

more humble, more prayerful, more penitent, 
desirous after more holiness, and a closer walk 
with my God and Saviour. 

" Since then I have been very near to that 
valley we must all pass, and yet, thanks be to 
Jesus, I was prepared and ready to enter it, as 
upon a night's rest, with calmness and peace. 
But my days are not all alike. My mind sympa- 
thizes, alas, too much with my body and outward 
impressions, and consequently there are days 
when I feel myself little prepared to meet my 
God. 

" My Christian life, to the time of my sickness, 
appears to me quite different from what it did. 
In meditating upon it, I have appeared to myself 
like a young soldier who, from love to his captain, 
and for the benefits received and to he received 
from him, enters the army. The drilling is pleas- 
ant. Love to his captain makes the young soldier 
obedient in every thing. Peace continues — the 
soldier receives favor after favor from his cap- 
tain — he rejoices in him — loves, admires, and 
strives to honor him in every possible way ; yea, 
he is certain that, whether in war, in trouble, or 
wherever his captain shall be willing to lead him, 
he will surely love to follow. But by and by, 
war ensues. The captain is before him, but the 
6 



82 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

arrows of the enemy fly on the right hand and 
left — he trembles, faints, and almost loses sight 
of his leader, and nearly forgets all his former 
benefits, and acts of love and mercy. 

" Yes, dear pastor, thns has Satan assailed 
me, in this my sickness. That old ■ serpent 
tempted me first with my many former sins, 
then with my sins committed after my conversion, 
my presumption in choosing the ministry, and 
the like. But, thanks be to God, my captain 
turned his face again towards me, and thus I was 
enabled to withstand those fiery darts. Not that 
I think to have overcome them for ever, or count 
myself to have already attained, but I trust, 
whatever may befall me, I shall, through my Lord 
and Saviour, be enabled to fight the good fight 
till I shall have got my crown. 

" My bodily health is very variable, and often do 
I doubt whether I shall ever recover. Since last 
week I have been able to sit up every day a short 

time, which time I tried to prolong daily 

My friends here are as kind as ever, yet they 
have much to do, and I might soon be a great 
burden to them. The other professors, and the 
students, are also very kind, as well as some of the 
good neighbors, who send me in refreshments and 
other articles. These things, though small, please 



GRATITUDE. 83 

me very much, showing that they remember me 

though I have hardly known them I have 

been now at the house of Professor L. ever since 

the 18th of November They have treated 

me with great kindness and indulgence, as you 
know people that are sick, and weak, and con- 
fined, sometimes drop a word which otherwise 
they would not. 

" The Lord is very gracious and merciful to me 
on all sides. When I look back upon my miserable 
life, from my boyhood to the present day, I can 
not but say that the Lord has literally covered my 
ingratitude with his blessings. When will it be 
otherwise ? Oh for a more loving, more thank- 
ful heart towards my God and Saviour! How 
mysterious ! As a stranger in this country, it 
might have been so that I should have been glad 
and thankful to have a bag of straw, in some 
warm corner, to lay my sick and weary head 
upon. But instead of this, I am surrounded with 
many comforts, and above all, with kind friends 
to administer them. In his wonderful providence, 
too, the Lord has sent me a room-mate, who has 
been as my right hand in this affliction. I thank 
you anew, dear pastor, for all your kindnesses. 
The Lord bless you for them, and remember 



84 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

them at the last day. I long to see you again, 
and have a religious conversation, and the privi- 
lege of hearing you pray. 

" Yours humbly, 

«H. S. O." 



CHAPTER VII. 

Dr. Hawes' Discourse continued — Ollendorff 's further Decline — 
Removal to Hartford — Sudden Death. 

" At the opening of the autumnal term in the 
Theological Institute," continues Dr. H., in his 
funeral discourse, " he was received as a member, 
so far as to join the classes in their studies, keep- 
ing up, at the same time, his labors, especially on 
the Sabbath, at Rockville ; and he was advancing 
happily in his course when, about the first of Sep- 
tember, he was seized with a violent cold, which, 
too much neglected, continued to increase in 
severity, till about the middle of November. He 
then became confined to his room, and to his 
extreme regret, he was cut off from all study, and 
from all active labor in the service of his Sa- 
viour." 

" The sequel is soon told. Disease fastened on 
his lungs, and it soon became apparent that he 



86 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

was marked for death. He gradually traveled 
towards the fatal terminus till the 27th of March, 
when he died suddenly, in the family of the Rev. 
Mr. Bird, with whom he had previously resided, 
and who had again opened his doors to take him 
in, and minister to his comfort in the last days 
of his earthly abode." 

" Without any thing like ecstasy or exulting 
hope during his sickness, he manifested, especially 
towards its close, a calm, submissive, confiding 
spirit, and expressed to me, in my last interview 
with him, but a few days before his death, a cheer- 
ful readiness to meet the issue, and a sustaining, 
comforting faith and hope in Christ as his Saviour 
and his all." 

On the morning of his last day, he rose, dressed 
himself, came down from his chamber, and took 
his breakfast with the family, as he had frequently 
done before during the two preceding weeks. At 
dinner he came again, and took his seat at the 
table. He had not commenced eating, however, 
when he deliberately rose, and retired to the 
washing room, apparently to go through with 
one of his coughing fits. The sound indicated 
that his cough was difficult. Soon we heard a 
loud cry of distress. He was immediately sur- 
rounded by the family, who found him support- 



DEATH. Q ( 

ing himself by the sink, over which he was lean- 
ing, and a torrent of blood was issuing from his 
mouth. Every ray of hope for him vanished in a 
moment. That he might not fall, we laid him 
carefully down upon the floor. He spoke delib- 
erately a few detached words, — " water — water 
— cold, coldy — I die— God." His utterance 
was choked, and soon he ceased attempting to 
speak or to make any effort whatever, and 
gradually sunk away in death, as in a swoon, or a 
gentle sleep, without a sigh or the contraction of 
a muscle. In less time than it has taken to write 
this account, the whole was over. It was a leap 
across the fearful stream, and not a wading, strug- 
gling, fainting passage ; and this sudden manner 
of his departure may, perhaps, be considered a 
merciful dispensation of Providence, forestalling 
the weakness and protracted pains of a wasting 
consumption. 

It maybe added, that the funeral services were 
conducted by his pastor, on which occasion, not- 
withstanding the rain that was falling, a number 
of the faculty and students from East Windsor, 
were present, and added their testimony to the 
excellent character of the deceased. 

Dr. Hawes proceeded : — " c Judge nothing 
before the time,' is the wise and needful 



88 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

counsel of the Apostle. The great day will, 
no doubt, sweep away many, many hopes as 
false, which appeared, in this world, well 
founded. But, without attempting to penetrate 
the future, or reveal the decisions of the final 
judgment, I may be permitted to say, that I have 
known very few persons, indeed none, in the 
whole course of my ministry, who afforded, in so 
short a time, more striking evidence of the 
renewing power of divine grace, or more touch- 
ing exhibitions of the humble, grateful, happy 
spirit of the gospel. He was of a tender, genial 
nature, benevolent, and self-sacrificing in an emi- 
nent degree, warmly thankful for kindnesses shown 
him, and earnestly desirous to be useful, especially 
to his Jewish brethren. < Oh,' said he, on one 
occasion, ' if I could but be the means of bringing 
one of the lost sheep of the house of Israel back 
to the good Shepherd, how happy I should be ! ' 
His mind was one of unusual activity, quick of 
apprehension, apt to learn, keenly alive to the 
beautiful in nature and in art, and able to express 
his thoughts with great ease, and often in a style 
revealing fine poetic taste and genius. Some of 
his descriptions of what he suffered, and what he 
enjoyed, especially of the feelings that swelled his 
bosom when he left the prison, and was able 



CHARACTER. 89 

once more to look abroad upon nature, then in the 
full bloom of opening summer, going with kind 
friends from his cell to a welcome home, few per- 
sons can read without deep emotion, so much do 
they breathe of lively sensibility, of tenderness, 
and grateful praise. 

" But he has gone to realize, I trust, the senti- 
ment he expressed to a friend, but a short time 
before his death. ' I did hope,' he said, 4 to have 
been useful in this world ; but,' he added, with a 
beaming countenance, and a smile which, this 
friend says, 'I shall never forget,' 'we do not 
know what the Lord may have for us to do in 
the other world; I love to think our employments 
will be such as we loved on earth.' 

" So I believe it is, dear departed friend, and in 
this persuasion I love to think of thee as received 
into the presence of thy Saviour, and in a higher 
and nobler sense than ever on earth, occupied in 
praising his name, in doing his will, and minister- 
ing in thine appointed sphere, to the glory and 
blessedness of his kingdom." 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Practical Lesson — Benevolent and Impartial Character of the G os- 
pel — Kind Words to the Jewish Reader. 

In the life and experience of this young man, 
one thing is calculated to strike the reader with 
peculiar force, and that is, the heavenly spirit and 
povjer of the Gospel. It confines its messages of 
love, and its renovating influence to no class of 
persons. It comes with equal freeness to all, to 
the rich and the poor, the high and the low, the 
bond and the free ; to Jew and Gentile, to Pagan 
and Mohammedan ; and from all of every name, 
condition, tribe, and nation, gathers the trophies 
of its mercy, and its heirs of salvation. Its mis- 
sion is to every creature on earth. It searches 
out the hungry and feeds them, the naked and 
clothes them. It goes to the hovels of the poor 
and ministers counsel and comfort ; to the bed- 
side of the sick and shows there its sympathy and 
kindness. It enters the cell of the poor prisoner 



BENEVOLENCE OF THE GOSPEL. 91 

and speaks peace and pardon, and gives joy and 
hope through a Saviour's love. This is the 
o-Qspel — this the " grace and truth " it brings to 
lost men; in its spirit, in its design, in its pro- 
cesses and triumphs, totally unlike every other 
system of religion on earth ; so unlike as to stand 
demonstrated before us to be from heaven, sent 
into this world of sin and sorrow, to " create all 
things new," to call back the wandering, the 
miserable, and the lost, to virtue, to happiness, 
and to God. 

Has that gospel, dear reader, entered your 
heart, and there lodged itself as a renewing, 
sanctifying power ? — bringing you to Christ, in- 
spiring you with his spirit, and engaging you in 
his service? You have been contemplating a 
stranger, a foreigner, quite unknown to you per- 
haps, a Jew, a poor culprit, who spent seventeen 
months in the criminal's cell. There, shut out 
from the means of grace through inability, for a 
long time, to speak or to understand our language, 
with only the New Testament to consult, or to 
guide his inquiries, the blessed gospel entered his 
bosom, made him a new creature, as his life suf- 
ficiently showed, and prepared him for the jDeace- 
ful and happy death by which he passed from this 
to a better world, Your circumstances, it may be 



92 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

taken for granted, are different from his. You have 
probably been born and brought up surrounded 
by Christian influences, with the claims of duty 
and the offers of salvation pressed upon your 
attention more or less strongly, all your days. 
What excuse can you have if yet the gospel has 
not entered your bosom, as a living power, to 
bring you to Christ, and form you for his service ? 
Perhaps you think you do not need this change 
— that though necessary for a man brought up in 
a synagogue, it is not so for you. But dream not 
that there is anything in your case so peculiar as 
to exempt you from the necessity of being born 
again — of becoming a new creature in Christ, 
through the renovating power of his gospel. This 
is a necessity which pertains to every human 
being, — to the young and the old, to the moral 
and the immoral, to the bond and the free, to the 
man who walks at liberty and dwells in a palace, 
no less than to the man who is deprived of his 
liberty, confined in the prisoner's cell, and fed on 
the humblest fare. For thus it is declared, by the 
great Teacher himself, "Except a man be born 
again — born of the Spirit — he cannot enter the 
kingdom of God? 

Should these lines meet the eye of any son of 
Israel, according to the flesh, let him be entreated 



CHRIST THE MESSIAH. 93 

to contemplate attentively the change that has 
just been described, in the mind of his Israelite 
brother, — to consider how strong, at first, were 
his prejudices, and how they were overcome by 
the stronger evidence of the truth of Christianity, 
— to consider how quietly his mind rested in his 
final conclusions, and how happy they made him, 
even in his prison, and afterwards in the prospect 
of approaching death. 

If Jesus Christ is the true promised Messiah, it 
must be perilous to reject him; for when God 
had said to Moses, (Deut. 18: 18,) "I will raise 
them up a prophet from among the brethren, like 
unto thee," he added, "whosoever will not 
hearken unto my words which he shall speak in 
my name, I will require it of him." And who 
among all the prophets was so much like unto 
Moses, as was Jesus Christ ? He was a prophet 
like Moses, in being an unambitious,* wise, and 
benevolent teacher. He was a prophet like 
Moses in foretelling future events. He foretold 
his own death and resurrection ; he foretold the 
destruction of Jerusalem; and he predicted, 
(how dared he do it ?) that his gospel should be 
published among all nations. Jerusalem was 
destroyed, and there is scarcely a nation on earth 
where the gospel has not been, and is not now 



94 MEMOIR OF 0LLEND0IIFF. 

published. In one more respect Jesus Christ was 
like Moses, viz.: in being the acknowledged head 
and leader of a peculiar people, whose God is the 
Lord. By this people is not here meant the 
entire population of Christian nations, but only 
those among them who profess to be religious, 
who worship God devoutly, and take for their 
rule of life, the words of Jesus and his Apostles. 
Surely it may be repeated, no other prophet ever 
came that resembled Moses so much as did Jesus 
Christ. 

He answered also the description given by 
Daniel. He came at the precise time fixed by 
that prophet for the Messiah's advent. 

He answered the description given by Isaiah. 
The Christian Scriptures speak of him as divine, 
and ascribe to him the attributes and works of 
God; and Isaiah, in like manner, says "He shall 
be called the mighty God, the everlasting Father." 
The Christian Scriptures declare him to be " our 
passover" — "the Lamb of God that taketh away 
the sin of the world." So Isaiah says, (ch. 53,) 
" He hath borne our griefs and carried our sor- 
rows — he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter 
— he was cut off out of the land of the living — 
for the transgression of my people was he 
stricken." * 



CHRIST THE MESSIAH. 95 

Many other circumstances might be referred to, 
showing that Jesus Christ was the Messiah of the 
holy prophets. And are not his claims worthy 
of candid and careful examination, as well by the 
Jew as by the Gentile ? Are not his teachings 
entirely consistent with the high office of the 
Messiahship? Do they not, in an eminent degree, 
breathe forth benevolence to men, and unbounded 
love to God ? And is it not notorious that men 
are universally made better, and that sometimes 
they are reclaimed from the lowest depths of vice, 
by a pious reception of Jesus as the Messiah ? 
And the nations that have received him as such, 
has not God, before the eyes of all the world, dis- 
tinguished them, by giving them power, and 
riches, and influence far above all others ? 

Such evidences as these, it is not too much to 
say, are proofs sufficient to every unprejudiced 
mind, that Jesus Christ was no impostor, but was 
all that he claimed to be, namely, the true Mes- 
siah. And if Jesus was and is the Messiah, then to 
reject him must be not only dangerous, but ruin- 
ous to the soul. 

There is no other way to be saved, but by him. 
"He that belie veth not the Son shall not see life, 
but the wrath of God abideth on him." 

May God hasten the happy time when the vail 



96 MEMOIR OF OLLENDORFF. 

shall be removed from all hearts, when both the 
seed of Abraham according to the flesh, and they 
who are such by faith, shall see alike, — shall 
recognize their brotherhood, and unite their 
exertions to promote the glory of their common 
Messiah, and the enlargement of his kingdom. 
Then shall we witness that " life from the dead " 
predicted by the Christian Apostle. Then also, 
as says Isaiah, " there shall be a root of Jesse 
which shall stand for an ensign of the people, to 
it shall the gentiles (the goyim) seek, .... and 
the Lord shall set up an ensign for the nations, 
and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and 
gather together the dispersed of Judah, from the 
four corners of the earth." Then shall Messiah 
reign. " The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and 
the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the 
calf and the young lion and the fatling together, 
and a little child shall lead them ; they shall not 
hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the 
earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, 
as the waters cover the sea." 



.J 



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